About Kuonyesha Art Fund
Kuonyesha Art Fund (KAF) is dedicated to supporting, celebrating, and advancing artists and the arts in all their diversity across Africa.
The Fund promotes professional artistic development and strengthens the role of artists and cultural practitioners as critical contributors to social dialogue, innovation, and public life on the continent.
Today, Kuonyesha has established a vibrant footprint across 16 African countries, supporting artists and creative initiatives in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Tunisia, Rwanda, Namibia, Sudan, Nigeria, Madagascar, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and beyond.
What We Stand For;
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Artistic Excellence: Supporting innovative and impactful artistic expression.
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Inclusion and Equity: Prioritising opportunities for women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented voices.
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Capacity Strengthening: Equipping artists and organisations with the skills and resources needed to thrive.
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Collaboration and Exchange: Connecting artists across borders and disciplines.
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Social Transformation: Promoting the role of arts and culture in shaping a more just, creative, and vibrant Africa.
Objevtives
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To enhance the vibrancy of the art sector and in so doing legitimize what artists do
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Seek to build bridges between and amongst artists and various art forms
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Support artists to create for their own reasons e.g. expression, freedom, influence community, social and cultural change in various respects.
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Nurture and build confidence amongst artists i.e. the fund recognizes artists in all their diversity and supports them to thrive in whatever they do
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To enable artists to develop new ways of or deepen relations with the audience and/or the community
Our Mission
Derived from the Swahili word meaning “to show,” Kuonyesha embodies the Fund’s commitment to elevating, showcasing, and celebrating artistic excellence across Africa. Since its establishment in 2019, the Fund has supported more than 200 artistic projects involving over 4,000 artists working across visual, literary, and performing arts disciplines. A significant focus of the Fund is inclusion and equity, with 85% of grants directed to women and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Beyond financial support, Kuonyesha provides comprehensive capacity-strengthening and technical support to all grant partners, helping artists and organisations build sustainable creative futures.
Our Vision for Africa’s Creative Future
Kuonyesha believes that a thriving African arts ecosystem is built on collaboration, diversity, and shared learning. By expanding opportunities for artists across the continent, the Fund fosters cross-cultural exchange, strengthens creative networks, and amplifies diverse artistic voices. Through its unique model of flexible grant making and grants-plus in artists and cultural initiatives, Kuonyesha is helping to build an interconnected and resilient arts community capable of addressing contemporary challenges while shaping Africa’s cultural future.
What The Fund Does Not Support
Kuonyesha Art fund will NOT support art projects that incite hatred, violence or any sort of exclusion or discrimination. In this pilot phase Kuonyesha Art fund will not support organisations
